Chapter 147: Xi'an Incident 8

On the evening of December 17, a small aircraft broke through the dusk mist and landed at Xi'an Airport. Su Lin's Chinese Communist Party delegation, after many twists and turns, finally arrived. Zhang Xueliang personally went to the airport to greet them, and the two shook hands tightly.

That night, in the Zhang residence in Jin Jia Xiang, Su Lin and Zhang Xueliang held an all‑night long talk. Under the oil lamp, Su Lin's face was thin and his eyes bright; he listened carefully as Zhang Xueliang recounted the detailed course of the incident and the current predicament.

"General Zhang Hanqing, General Yang Hucheng, you two dare to be the first in the world, launching this righteous undertaking; your Anti‑Japanese, nation‑saving sincerity, our Party deeply admires!" Su Lin got straight to the point, affirming Zhang and Yang's original intention.

Zhang Xueliang sighed, his brows filled with anxiety and confusion: "Mr. Su, to be frank, I'm now riding a tiger I can't get off. The Chairman has been detained, refuses to cooperate, even threatens death, and Li Yuxuan's troops are still eyeing the city from outside. On the Jinling side, He Yingqin is moving troops and commanders, a major battle is about to erupt. Inside the city things are temporarily stable, but Public Sentiment is restless. At this moment I truly don't know what to do next. If we release him, I'm afraid the Chairman will settle scores later and the Anti‑Japanese cause will become a bubble. If we don't release him, the civil‑war crisis is imminent; would I, Zhang Hanqing, not become a national traitor?"

Su Lin analyzed calmly: "General Zhang Hanqing, the current situation hinges on the Chairman's attitude. Killing Chiang is simple, but what then? As you fear, civil war will inevitably break out, Japan will reap the benefits, and your fervent Anti‑Japanese zeal may instead become the fuse for national internal turmoil—far from our original intention."

He shifted his tone, his gaze steady as he looked at Zhang Xueliang: "Then the only path beneficial to the nation is to get the Chairman to agree to the Anti‑Japanese stance, and then release him."

"Release him?" Zhang Xueliang hesitated, "If he returns and then turns his back on his word…"

"Therefore we cannot release him unconditionally," Su Lin said with confidence, "We must force him to make a clear commitment and create an established fact: the entire nation, including a faction within his Jinling government, strongly demands an Anti‑Japanese stance, leaving him unable to backtrack. At present, the British and American sides, for their own interests, do not want a China civil war and support a peaceful resolution. The Soviet Union's attitude leans the same way. Even within Jinling, Song Zihun, Song Meiling, Kong Xiangxi and others advocate rescue rather than punishment. This is the great trend! We must use this trend to compel Chiang to adopt the Anti‑Japanese line. As long as he, before the whole nation and even the world, agrees to a united Anti‑Japanese effort and then we release him, his credibility and ruling foundation will be tied to the Anti‑Japanese cause; a facile reversal would cost him enormously."

He further encouraged Zhang Xueliang: "General Zhang Hanqing, as long as you, I, and General Yang Hucheng stand united, maintain a firm Anti‑Japanese position, resolve this matter peacefully, and promote a nationwide resistance, you will become a national hero, and history will record this achievement! Our Party will support you without reservation."

Su Lin's analysis, far‑sighted and logical, deeply moved Zhang Xueliang, whose heart was in torment, greatly strengthening his resolve to "release Chiang and fight the Japanese." "Very well! Mr. Su, I will follow your lead! For the Anti‑Japanese cause, my personal gains and losses, Zhang Hanqing, are insignificant!"

Next, Su Lin met with Yang Hucheng. Compared with Zhang Xueliang, Yang Hucheng's concerns were more practical and heavy.

"Mr. Su," Yang Hucheng said in a heavy tone, "I command a regional force, not as deeply rooted as General Zhang Hanqing's Northeast Army. In this Military Advisor matter, I am cooperating. If we release the Chairman and he returns to Jinling, he may have reservations about Hanqing, but for my Seventeenth Route Army, I'm afraid… sigh, the post‑war reckoning will fall first on us! I cannot ignore the lives and fortunes of the brothers under my command."

Su Lin fully understood Yang Hucheng's worries and patiently explained: "General Yang Hucheng's concerns are reasonable. But please consider, if we do not release Chiang, what will happen? The 5th Army and the 18th Army outside the city may first slaughter the entire Xi'an City; can the Northeast Army and the Seventeenth Route Army hold on alone? Even if they can sustain for a while, when He Yingqin's punitive forces from Jinling arrive, a prolonged civil war will drain the nation's vitality, while the Japanese invaders will benefit. At that point, not only might the Seventeenth Route Army be lost, but your lifelong reputation could also be destroyed in the civil war."

He moved closer to Yang Hucheng, his voice sincere and forceful: "Conversely, if we resolve this peacefully and compel Chiang to adopt the Anti‑Japanese line successfully, then you, General, will become the hero who unites the nation in resistance, winning popular acclaim. Even if the Chairman harbors revenge, under a nationwide call for united Anti‑Japanese effort, he will find it hard to act against a meritorious official. Moreover, at that time all forces across the country, including our Party, will monitor the Seventeenth Route Army's situation, creating a check. More importantly, your troops can earn merit on the Anti‑Japanese battlefield, using those achievements to solidify your position—this is the very foundation of security and livelihood!"

Su Lin's heartfelt analysis, considering the Seventeenth Route Army's perspective, ultimately moved Yang Hucheng, dispelling his many doubts and securing the Seventeenth Route Army's firm support for the peaceful resolution policy.

In the days that followed, Su Lin displayed extraordinary united‑front talent. He extensively contacted officers of all ranks in the Northeast Army and the Seventeenth Route Army, attended their meetings, gave speeches, expounded the Chinese Communist Party's Anti‑Japanese stance, analyzed the situation, and emphasized the importance of unity. His compelling words, candid attitude, and insightful views earned the trust and support of many mid‑level officers, effectively stabilizing the morale of Xi'an's troops. At the same time, he actively met with various figures and social elites in Xi'an, promoting the Communist Party's Anti‑Japanese position and creating a favorable public‑opinion atmosphere for a peaceful resolution.

On December 19, the Chinese Soviet Central Government and the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee jointly issued a circular, formally proposing to both Jinling and Xi'an to convene a peace conference to discuss a united Anti‑Japanese national salvation policy.

In London, British Foreign Secretary Eden urgently summoned the Huaxia ambassador: "The British Empire hopes your country remains stable; we support a peaceful resolution of the Xi'an Incident."

In Washington, President Roosevelt instructed Secretary of State Hull to issue a statement urging all parties to exercise restraint.

Meanwhile in Tokyo, the Japanese military was plotting.

"This is a heaven‑sent opportunity!" an Army General exclaimed excitedly, "As long as Huaxia erupts into civil war, we can…"

"Do not act rashly," a more seasoned Foreign Ministry official warned, "The British and American are watching; now is not the time."